thamm



June 19, 1923. 1,459,563

P. THAMM ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT Original Filed April 21 1920 3Sheets-Sheet 1.

gwuvntoz Pa 102 Thu/mm.

June 19, 1923. 1,459,563

P. THAMN! ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT Original Filed April 21, 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 2 guy. 2.

Paul 7714 mm June 19, 1923.

P. THAMM ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original FiledApril 21 1920 Paul Timmm Patented June 19, 1923.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL THAMM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T S. WHYLE MERRIT'I' CO. INC.,01'' NEIV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT.

Renewal of application Serial No. 375,626, filed April 21, 1920, andrenewed December 3, 1921. This application filed December 27, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL Ti-IAMM, residing atNew York city, in thecounty of New York'and State of New York, a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricLight and Power Plants; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in electric light and power plants,and more particularly to a plant which is self-contained or comprises asingle unitary structure. This application was filed originally 'April21, 1920,- Serial No. 375,626, allowed December 28, 1920, and renewedDecember 3, 1921, and allowed December 21, 1921.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a simple,efficient. economical and safe plant designed especially for domestic,business-and farm lighting, for operating accessories requiring eithermotive or electric power, and for such other uses and purposes for whichit may be adapted.

A further object is to provide a plant of this character, embodying a.semi-automatic control, under the provisions of which the plant will notstart automatically but will stop automatically whenever the batterieshave been charged to their full capacity. A. further object is theprovision of a. compact, self-contained, durable and coinparativelylight construction, (1) wherein there is employed a single cylindervertical gasoline engine connected directly with an electric generator;(2) wherein there is providedsuitable storage batteries from whichcurrent can be drawn either for lighting purposes or for operating smallelectric motors;v (3) wherein there is employed a switch board with thestandard instruments necessary for the control of the system: (4)wherein there is provided a combined crank and generator shaft having apulley from which direct power can be obtained; (5) wherein there is acooling system of the thermo-siphon type including a cellular type ofradiator located between the generator and the engine; (6) and whereinthere is a fan fly-wheel located between the radiator and the engine soas to draw the air Serial No. 609,346.

- through the generator parts and the radiator core for keeping theseparts 000].

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingspecification, and the preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part ofthis application, and in which 'Fig. 1 is a central verticallongitudinal section through a plant made in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 4 represents a hollowengine base of substantially square form in configuration, the samebeing designed to serve as a gasoline reservoir and having at one end anopening 5 through which gasoline may he introduced. The opening 5 isnormally closed by a cap 6. Boltedas at 7 upon the engine base is acrank casing 8, with which also is preferably cast asan integral featurethereof, the fan fly-wheel housing 9 whose forward end is open.Rigidly-secured by bolts as 10 to the flared flange 11 of the fanfly-wheel housing. is a housing,

cast with a polygonal portion 12 which comprises a housing for theradiator 13, and a circular. portion 14 having a forwardly taperingportion 15, the said portions 14 and 15 comprising a housingfor theelectric generator, and the said portion 15 being cast with groups ofslots 16 to permit indrawing of the air as will presently apear.

17 represents a horizontal crank shaft.

which is journaled in bearings 18 and 19 suitably cast for the purposewith the crank casing. and also in a bearing 20 cast in the forward endof the generator housing portion 15. In each of these bearings there isprovided suitable bushings or bearin; surfaces as 21, within which thecrank shaft rotates. At its inner end within the crank casing, the crankshaft is cast or otherwise provided with theusual counterbalanced crank22, carrying a crank pin 23, having operatively mounted thereon theconnecting rod bearing 24 for the connecting rod 25, which projectsupward for vertical operation through an opening 26, cut

in the crank casing, and into the vertical cylinder casing '27, boltedas at 28 to the crank casing. At its upperend the connect ing rod 25carries a piston pin 29, operativcly held in a piston pin bearing 30,suitably provided in apiston 31. This piston is titted with two pistonrings 32, especially designed to prevent smoking. 1

Cast with the cylinder casing 27 all around is a water jacket 33, inwhich on one side of the cylinder casing is cast bearings'as 34.carrying glands for the rcciprocal operation of the'stems 36 of thepoppet valves 37, for each of which there is a seat 38. The poppetvalves command the inlet and exhaust for the combustion chamber 39,suitably formed in conjunction with the walls of'the water jacket, by acylinder head 40, which is bolted securely to "the water jacketas'at 41.l

The'poppe't valve stems-36 are adjustably connected as at42with lowerenlarged stems 43, which extend through bushingst ui'tably provided inthe bearings 45 boltet ,on the top of the crank casing. The lower endsof the enlarged stems 43 are acted on by cams46, pinned on a shaft 47,which extends at right-angles to the crank shaft 17 and is rotatablymounted in bushings 48 suitably provided in bearings 49 cast on thetapering ends 5Q of the aligned but spaced apart cylindric'al housin s51 and52, bolted as at 53 to the'r'ight an left sides of the'crank ms inas best shown in Fig. 2.'

Between the cams 46, the shaft 47 carries a helical ,gzear 54, whichmeshes with a similar gear'55 pinned on the crank shaft 17, by whicharrangement thdcarni shaft 47 is driven for actuating the poppet valves,the

helical ,qcar coiinectionsbeing such that the cam shaft is driven'athalf engine speed. Surrounding each of the poppet valve stems 36.immediately above its adjustment 4-2. is a collar 56; and coiled abouteach stein between its collar 56 and a flange 57, formed on the gland35,is a spring 58 which urges the valve stein.downwardly thereby holdiiu:the enlarged stem portion in constant ongagement with its cam.

Leading from the water jacket 33 is a water pipe 59, which scurvedforwardly and opens into a vcrticalwater pipe 60. fitted at its top endwith a water riser (3] having an opening 02 through which the water isintroduced. The opening (32 is normally closed by a. cam 63. Thevertical water pipe 60 ommunicates with a cellular radiator 13 fromwhiclrJeads .a pipe 64. which extends first horizontally and thenvertically to empty into the waterjacket 33, so as to proride atherIno-siphon system of the wellknown type for cooling the engine.

Keyed at upon the shaft 1'? within the housing 9, is a fan fly-wheel(16. which. it ill he observed, is thus located between the radiator 13and the engine. In advance of the radiator within the housing portion14,

there is keyed on the shaft 17 at 67, an armature 68, which spins withinthe usual magnet (59 properly supported within the housing portion 14.T0 is a commutator whose poles T1 are wiped by the terminal brushes 72for collecting the electric current, the said brushes being connected bya suitable wiring system with storage batteries (not shown) suitablylocated within the switch board casing '73, which contains the necessarystandard instruments for controlling'the system and including a cutoutswitch 74 and an ampere meter 75. Exteriorly of the tapering generatorcasing portion 15, there is keyedat 76 a pulley 77, which may beconnected by a suitable belt with any device or accessories re airingmotive power for their operation. fliutting the pulley 77, there is.operatively connected on the shaft 17 the hub TSofa starting crank 79.

Set ihth'e top of the cylinder head 40 is the usual spark plug; 80 which,is connected in electrical circuit with the electric system including acircuit closing plug 81 which is attached to the housing 51 (Fig. 2) butinsulated therefrom as 82, the said plug carrying the usual connectingwheel 83 designed to be engaged by a distributor 84 carried on the endof the cam shaft 47. The Open end of the housing 51 is closed by a glasswindow 85 so that the operation may be observed. In the opposite housing52 for the cam shaft, there is attached to-the cam shaft a governor 86of the centrifugal type and designed to be especially sensitive to speedvariation. Associated with this governor is an axially movable collar 37which is connected through the link 83, the curved link 99 the verticallink 90 and crank ill with a. butterfly valve 92, which controls the.entrance through a pipe 9 of the gasoline mixture to thccombustionchamber. The-pipe 93} leads from acarburetor 94, which sucks its fuelfrom the gasoline reservoir through a pipe 95. 96 represents an openingfor the exhaust which is accomplished through an exhaust pipe 97.

According to one feature of: my invention. the crank casing also servesas an oil tank. The oil is circulated for the lubrication of the partsin the crank casing by means of a pressure pump of the gear type.located in the bottom of the crank casing. 98 denotes a helical gearwhich derives its power from a similar gear 55 keyed on the crank shaft.This helical gear is pinned to a vertical shaft 99. operativelysupported in a cylindrical column 100. the lower end of which is securedto an upward deformation 101 cast for this specific purpose in thebottom plate 12 of the crank casing. The shaft 99 operates the usualpair of oil circulating: gears 10 opcrntiroly arranged in a housingconstruct mouth of the spout. 'provided in order that the diaphragm mayed within the interior of the upward deformation 101. The oil passes tothe gears 103 through an opening 104, and is forced out under pressurethrough an opening 105 into a pipe 106, which communicates with a bore107 provided in the bearing 18 and bushing 21, so that the oil will besupplied in a copious amount to this bearing, a portion of the oil flowfinding its way between the hearing and the shaft 17 to the baflle plate108, which directs it back into the crank casing through a return pipe109. Another [)Ol'r tion of the flow of the oil, meeting with therotating gear 55, is caused thereby under centrifugal action tolubricate the engaged helical gears 54 and 98. Through a centraltapering opening 98, provided in the gear 98, the oil runs downwardlyand around the shaft 99 so as to lubricate the latter.

The lubricant is introduced into the crank casing through a relativelylarge outwardly inclined spout 110, for which there is provided aclosure, hin ed at 111 and consist ing of. a ring shaped plate 112, onwhich is pinned a diaphragm 113. Yielding bearing on this diaphragm is aspring 114, which curved as at 115 to snap under the outwardlyprojecting flange 116 that defines the This arrangement is yieldoutwardly and inwardly to take care of the variation of pressure withinthe crank casing and due to the vertical movements 1 of the piston.

At 117 (Fig. 2) there isattached to the crank casing an oil gage 118. Atthe forward end of the crank shaft the bearing 21 may be oiled by handthrough an openmg 119.

This light and power plant comprises a very compact unit ofcomparatively light weight, designed especially foruse on farms, inhomes, stores, clubs, churches and the like. From its batteries may bedrawn not only the power necessary for lighting purposes but also thepower for operating accessories and necessary household articles such asvacuum cleaners, electric irons, electric fans, cookers and the like.From the pulley 27 power may be conveniently obtained for operatingwashing machines,

.churns, cream separators, water pumps and myself to the specificdetails'of construction andarrangement as herein described andillustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may hemade in such features of construction and arrangement, in the adaptionof the device to the various conditions of use, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore,reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properlyfall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the followinclaims.

What claim is 1. In an electric light and power plant, an engineprovided with a crank shaft. a radiator surrounding said crank shafthaving an annular water jacket, a water riser, a pipe connecting saidwater riser with the water jacket of the radiator, a cylindercasing-having a water jacket, pipes connecting the radiator water jacketwith the cylinder water jacket and the cylinder water jacket with thewater riser and a generator and a fan mounted on said crank shaft, onopposite sides of said radiator, said fan adapted to draw air throughthe said 'generator and radiator.

2. In an electric light and power plant, a crank casing combined with afan flywheel housing, a combined radiator and generator housingconnected with the fanflywheel housing, a horizontal crank shaftoperatively arranged in said casing and'said housings, a cylinder casingsecured to the crank casing and a pistontherein having operativeconnectior with said crank shaft, a combustion chamber formed with saidcylinder casing and providedwith inlet. and outlet valves, an electricgenerator operated by said crankshaft, a cellular radiator lo catedbetween said' generator and said engine, a thermosiphon system connectedwith said radiator for cooling the engine and a fan fly-wheel carried bysaid crank shaft in the fan fly-wheel housing between the radiator andthe engine, said fan fly vheel being designethto serve as a medium fordrawing the air throughthe generator and radiator to keep them cool.

3. In an electric light and power plant, a crank casing combined with afan fly-whcel housing, a combined radiator and electric generatorhousing connected to said fan flywheel housing, a crank shaftoperatively arranged in said casing and said housings and operating anelectric generator located in the generator housing, a cylinder casingscoured upon the crank casing and having a piston, an operativeconnection between the piston and crank shaft, means combined with thecylinder casing to form a combustion chamber and a water jacket, acellular radiator located in the radiator housing and having connectionthrough an inlet and outlet pipe with said water jacket, inlet andoutlet valves for said combustion chamber, means for operating the sameand a fan flywheel located in the fan flywheel housing between theradiator and the engine and designed to draw 'the air throu h the genenrtor and radiator for cooling 1e same.

4.11 an electric light and powe plant 5 the combination of ahollowengine base forming a gasoline reservoir, a crank (7;!8 ing supportedthereon and with which is combined a fan fly-Wheel housing, a coinliined radiator and generator housing run- 10 nected with the fanfly-wheel housing. a

-. l lan'radiai l 1oriz ontal crank-shait fopeifatively arranged in saidcasing'and said housings, a cylinder casing holted to the crank casingand a p s 1 .11 herein haying}operatire connection wi s idbran shaft,=1. mmoti n Chew llfi formed with 'saigl cylinder casing and jprorided'jivith inlet a njd outlet valves, an

ing between the radiator andihefj'cngine,

said fan'fiywheelfoeing designed/to serve. as a, medium foridrarri rigthe air through the v generator and radiator" to lge'epthesc parts QOGL.i I i i and pouier plant, v }the comhination, of hollow engine baseforming a, gasoline reservoir, a crank casing bolt d the e n an ombine il the f fly-wheethous in g, 'a combined radiator and electricgeneratorhousing supported ,upon

I erator housin said base and bolted to saidffain fly-.wheel housing, acrank-shaft operatively arranged insaid casing andsaidhousings andoperating an electric generator located inthe gena cylinder casingbolted vertically upon tie crank casing and having a piston, anoperative connection between the piston and crank shaft. means combinedwith the cylinder casing to form a comhustion chamberand a water jacket,a cellular radiator located in the radiator housing and ha vingconnection through an inlet and outlet pi e nith said water jacket,inlet and outlet va vcs for said combustion chamber, rneans .foroperating the same from the crank-shaft and a .fan flynrheellocated inthe fan fly- ,xrheel housing between the radiator and the engine anddesigned to d ran the air through the generator and radiator for coolingthese parts.

(3. In an electriculight and power plant, the combination of an enginehase forming a gasoline reservoir. supporting elements bolted thereonand comprising a crankcasing, a

0 fan fly wheel housing, radiator housing and generator housing, allarranged in horizontal alinernent, a. horizontal crankshaft. operaticelyarranged-therein. acylinder casing holted upon the crank casing andhaving a piston connected with said crankshaft, a

generator operated by the crank-shaft with in the generator housing,said fan fly-wheel being designed to draw the air through the generatorand cellular radiator for cooling these parts. a driving pulley locatedon said crank-shaft exteriorlr of the generator hous' ing, and astartingcrank for said crankshaft. i

7. In an electric light and power plant, the combination of anenginebase-forming a gasoline reservoir, supporting elements sc cured thereonand comprising, a emu; casing, a fan fly-wheel housing, radiator housingand generator-housing, allarranged in horizontal al-inemcnt. ahorizontal crank; shaft operatively arranged thereima cylin der casingholtcd upon the crank casing and having a piston providedwith aconnection wI-thsaid crankrshaft, a. combustion chamber andoutlet andinlet valves therefor com- 1 bined with the cyllndcr casing. a cellularradiator arranged about said frank-shaft r,ithin the radiator housing.and having connectionsto provide a thermo-siphou cooling system for theengine. a fan fly-wheel lo; cated in the fan flV-wliccl housing betweenthe cellular radiator and the engine, an electric generatoropcratcd bythe crank-shaft within the. generator housing. saidgf an flywheel beingdesigned todran' the air through the generator-and cellular radiator forcooling these parts. an oil pressure pump of the near l \p(: l(u'ai(".lin the cranl; casing and operated from said crank-shaft and a condw-tingpipe. between the oil pump and the engine hearings \\'ll\'1l'(-ll V tolubricate. the latter.

.Q. in an electric. light and power-plant, the. (fmHllllllllllOll of anengine base forming a gasoline reservoir. supporting elements so; curedthereon and comprising a crank casing. a fan fly-wheel housing. radiatorhousing and generator housing. all arranged in horizontal alincmeut, ahorizontal crankshaft operativclyarranged therein. a cyliu-.

d r easing bolted upon the crank casing and having a piston providedwith a connection with said crank-shaft, a c mbustion chamber and outletand inlet valves therefor comhined with the cylinder casing. a cellularra' diator arranged ahout said crank-shaftand radiator'housing. andhaving connections to provide a thermo-siphon cooling system for theengine. a fan fly-wheel located in the fan fl '\':lieel housing betweenthe cellular radiator and the engine, an electric generator opspoutincluding a diaphragm designed to erated by the crank-shaft within thegenerarespond to the variation of pressure within 19 tor housing, said,fan fly-wheel being dethe crank casing as the piston operates signed todraw the air through the generator therein.

and cellular radiator for cooling these parts, In testimony whereof Ihave aifixed my a spout combined with the crank casing and signature.through which the oil may be introduced thereinto, and a hinged closurefor said PAUL THAMIM.

